Hey ashwin,

Good luck man.

Take care.

Happy thumping,
Prakhar

Im glad to be of some help man
In no time im sure you'll be helping someone out on xBhp as well. That's what makes this forum so amazing : Camaraderie !

Post up pics as soon as you find the bull. We're looking forward to the pics and the ride experiences...

Cheers !

Hey guys, does one need to top up a Std. 350's engine oil or clutch oil between oil changes?

Guys have finalised on the Std. 350! I'll be taking my mechanic to inspect the bikes I have lined up, but for my knowledge... what are the precautions and things to look for when buying a 2nd hand Std. 350, especially one more than 5 or even 10 years old? Also, what is the decompress and how do I use it?

ur mech will b able to tell u abt the decompressor much better n practically then i can over hear..
jus rewire ur brain for the change in brake n gear sides....
i did da same thing.. its difficult at first..
needless to say practise on empty roads first ..
get ur self well versed wit the braking.. the Drums on the Bullets r not sumtin dat i can praise...60-40 is the appropriate ratio .. and .. erst u 'll learn wit time.. so enjoy!!

I heard the brakes are only so-so. Hence my choice to fit the RE disc kit for the 350...

I'll force myself to change. Start in my colony (I live in a gated community) then move to local roads, then head cross-city, then small rides, then tours. All in a matter of weeks

Hey ashwin,

It's good to know that you have made your decision & that too a good decision.

As for oil consumption, buddy, it all depends on the condition of the engine. If it has bad rings or valves, it will burn oil, requiring you to top up the oil at times, or there may be a leak. But otherwise, there's no need, unless ofcourse the oil you have put in is not of good quality & has gotten oxidized.

About the decompressor, it's a simple valve provided in the cylinder head which releases the pressure from the combustion chamber, so that the piston can go past TDC & the engine can turn over & let it start. The usage will be better explained to you by your mechanic.

Take care.

Happy thumping,
Prakhar

Thanks Prakhar.

What all should I check in the bike when inspectng?

So far I got:

- oil rings/valves/seals
- gearbox
- scratches
- papers
- what else?

Hey ashwin,

You have pretty much covered everything, but then as far as cosmetics go, just look for them with an intention to know about some accident. Some bikes that you might see would be very good technically but then would be crappy in looks due to lack of usage or a plethora of reasons. Don't leave such a bike, because you will get it cheaper & cosmetics can always be easily taken care of.

And hey, make sure you listen to a hot engine, as a cold engine would hide many of its stories but a hot engine will reveal everything.

Take care.

Happy thumping,
Prakhar

* Tyres

- If there's not a decent amount of tread left on them, you'll be looking at a potential expenditure of about 2 grand.
If the bike's good save for the tyres, bargain with the seller to knock off a couple of grand, off the asking price in order to buy new shoes for the bull

Hmm, so judging by the comments here a good test ride of say 5-10 kms. would be in order, giving the bike optimum time to warm up and show its true colours and handling issues. And yes, thanks for the tip on the tyres, they slipped my mind totally! Will check it out.

Ashwin,

Take a longer test ride, and under varied conditions. Only then, you'll be able to gauge the motorcycle's condition properly. Watch out for bent/welded footpegs and the motorcycle pulling to one side whe you take your hands off the handlebars. This means that the motorcycle has taken a fall or bent forks, etc. Also try to buy a STD350 which has been produced after 2002. Ok. Here is a trade secret of dealers who try to push std350s. They will have advanced the timing which will result in peppier performance for the time being/short stints. Later you will find your motorcycle overheating and that could result in a seizure. This is why you need to take a longer test ride with a trusted bullet mechanic on the pillion. Hope this helps.

Hey jay,

I couldn't help but ponder as to why you are specifically stressing to look for a bike which is recent, & post 2002. I would request you to elaborate on the reasons for the benefit of all.

Take care.

Happy thumping,
Prakhar

Hey guys, I am back from a test ride of an 04 model, perhaps not an ideal time but the ideal route: Mehdipatnam to the airport and back. Earlier today I test rode a few other Std. 350s. There were no issues except the vibes and the oil leaks...

Spoke with my mechanic and he told me that the Std. 350 is the vibiest of the Enfields, and he advised me to consider carefully before I buy this. Regardless of the model I buy, used or new, I'd have to spend a fair amount of time and money maintaining her. Being a college student on a budget, I have neither at the moment. He told me I can go for an Electra or a Thunderbird, which offer lesser maintainence levels (though the 'Bird does come close he says).

After today's rides, I discovered that now is not the time for me to be buying the Std. 350. I could not do justice to her, and I feel it would be a sacrilege to go for such a beauty and neglect her, or even give her less than 110% of the love and devotion she deserves. I've asked around for a decently priced 2005-2007 Electra with <20,000 on the odometer (up to 40-43k for the 4S and 55k for the 5S). If I don't get this, I will look into a Karizma or Avenger to tide over my tourer requirements until the day comes when I can afford to give enough of my time and money to keep the Bull running at maximum potential.

Prakhar Bhai,

The main reason I am harping upon the post 2002 models is because that is when Eicher took over RE which was facing a possible shutdown. Since 2002, there has been a concerted attempt to improve quality which has yielded some positive results. Also CNC machining along with better dies were introduced. If you observe, the REs rolling out the factory in recent times have next to no major oil leaks. This is mainly due to the mating surfaces - like cylinder-head, etc being machined better. So, the overall quality is better.

AshwinBK,

If you cannot spend that little bit of extra time tending/caring for your bull, better don't buy it. Even the Electra4S/5S will require some maintenance which in all probability will be more than the Indo-Jap bikes. I think you should be able to get a good example of the 5S for 55K. Also, how much did the owner quote for the 2004 STD350 and how many miles on the clock?